The US government's National Intelligence Council sponsors "Project 2020", a discussion of
what the world will be like fifteen years from now. They have recently [Jan 2005] published a report, "Mapping the Global Future" which
is causing considerable comment and controversy. You can download a copy of this 123-page report (6.7M) by clicking here. An HTML version that can be read in sections can be found here.

Excerpt - "Several potential adversaries have or can acquire the capability to attack the United States with a high-altitude nuclear weapon-generated electromagnetic pulse (EMP). A determined adversary can achieve an EMP attack capability without having a high level of sophistication. EMP is one of a small number of threats that can hold our society at risk of catastrophic consequences." The above is from a special report prepared for the US Congress on the dangers of an EMP attack.
Click here to download the full 62-page report (app. 600K)

Below are the two final reports from the "9/11 Commission", the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, the
US Congressional committee charged with investigating the September 11 disaster and its roots. The first is a 31-page executive summary
(5.9 MB) and the second is the full 585-page report (7.4 MB).
These are substantial downloads and cannot be recommended for those with dial-up connections to the Internet.

Prior to the reports above, these are two reports released by the staff of the "9/11 Commission". They are without photos or artwork, thus they are very easy
downloads of less than 200K each. They represent thousands of hours of research and testimony, but are brief (12 and 20
pages long) straight-forward, well-written, and without political agenda.

An interesting report entitled, "Winning the War on Terrorism", has been prepared by Congressman Jim Turner (D-Texas), ranking member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee's Democratic staff. At 95 pages (1.7M), it is a sizable download, but for those who would like a copy of this alternative approach to the war on terrorism, click here.

In September of 1999, the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress prepared a special study for the CIA's
National Intelligence Council entitled, "Sociology and Psychology of Terrorism". Well-written as a whole, the profiles of
al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri two years before 9/11 are especially riveting. Note: this is a 178 page
report and a 1.5 megabyte PDF. Download it here.

The annual "strategic survey" of Britain's International Institute for Strategic Studies has
been widely quoted for its estimate of 18,000 al Qaeda operatives. The full report can be purchased at their site at
www.iiss.org. However, an unusually thorough five-page press summary can be downloaded here.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s
(DARPA) News Releases provides articles about the
ways in which cutting edge technology is being used
in defense and security programs. www.darpa.mil/body/news.html

The statement given by the director of the Defense
Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) to the
House Armed Services Committee’s sub-committee on
Terrorism, Unconventional Threats, and Capabilities
provides insights into the ways in which “radical” technological innovations are utilized to fight
terrorist threats. (PDF download) www.darpa.mil/body/newsitems/pdf/hasc_3_27_03final.pdf

For some interesting articles on the ways in which
emerging technologies are utilized in the fields
of security and defense go to the New Scientist’s
index of security and defense articles. www.newscientist.com

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology
Now provides news and commentary by specialists
in the field of nanotechnology. www.nanotech-now.com

The
Foresight Institute offers interesting news and
resources on nanotechnology and where the field
is headed. www.foresight.org

The
Center for Responsible Nanotechnology offers a
wide range of news, information, and commentary
on developments in the field of nanotechnology.
crnano.org

For
the latest news and breakthroughs in the field
of nanotechnology go to the New Scientist’s index
of nanotechnology articles. www.newscientist.com

Rice University’s Center for Nanoscale Science
and Technology provides an interesting portal
that offers links to various nanotechnology sites
which range from the most elementary to the highly
advanced. cnst.rice.edu

Read about the latest news about the field of
nanotechnology at the National Nanotechnology
Initiatives’ News Site. www.nano.gov/news.htm

Biotechnology

The Central Intelligence Agency has declassified a brief two-page summary of a bioterrorism panel's observations entitled
"The Darker Bioweapons Future". A PDF file, you can
download a copy here.

A study of "average" volunteers of different backgrounds by Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and the Environmental Working
Group found an average of 91 industrial compounds, pollutants, and other chemicals in their blood and urine. Does it
overstate or understate the potential dangers? Make your own judgment at
www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden.

To read some of the latest information on biotechnology,
check out the New Scientist’s index of biotechnology
articles. www.newscientist.com

The President’s Council on Bioethics discusses the
ways in which advancements in biotechnology intersect
with ethical and legal issues. http://bioethics.gov

The American Journal of Bioethics’ website provides
resources on the most current issues in bioethics.
www.bioethics.net

Genetic
Engineering

The Genome News Network provides an interesting online magazine that covers news and features on developments in medicine, agriculture, and
other interesting topics. Genome News Network

The National Institute of Health’s Cell Information Page provides
links and information regarding the latest news
on the discoveries, benefits, and political legislation
surrounding stem cell research. stemcells.nih.gov

For updated stories on recent trends and breakthroughs
in the field of genetically modified agriculture
look at the Special Report on GM food on NewScientist.com.
www.newscientist.com

An interesting porthole for the latest news about
GM food can be found in the Genetically Modified
Food News. www.connectotel.com

Computers,
the Internet, and Information technology

The UK's Register is perhaps the best-known and most comprehensive website covering breaking news in Information Technology.
Noted for its informal language, it's often amusing as well as highly informative.
theregister.co.uk

CNET provides resources and news on viruses and
computer and internet security in their Security
News section. CNET.com

General

A bipartisan group of top energy experts from industry, government, labor, academia, and environmental and consumer groups
have released a consensus strategy, more than two years in the making, to address major long-term U.S. energy challenges.
The report, "Ending the Energy Stalemate: A Bipartisan Strategy to Meet America’s Energy Challenges," contains detailed
policy recommendations for addressing oil security, climate change, natural gas supply, the future of nuclear energy, and
other long-term challenges, and is backed by more than 30 original research studies. It is available as a 2.3 MB, 148-page
PDF file by clicking here or as a 600K, 24-page summary by
clicking here.

In December of 2000, the CIA published a document entitled, "Global Trends 2015: A Dialogue About the Future with Non-Government Experts". It is one of the most comprehensive
attempts to foresee the global future, covering a wide range of issues and providing considerable statistical
information and text in a visually attractive format. In this age of specialization, this 98-page paper provides a broad
overview, but with sufficient detail to inform, not simply provoke, thought. It is available as a 6 MB by clicking here.

The film, "The Day After Tomorrow", has caused considerable
comment and controversy as it is based on a sudden, disastrous climate change. Proponents claim the movie is based in
part on a special report prepared for the Department of Defense, "An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario and Its Implications
for United States National Security" published in October of 2003. Not as dramatic as the movie, the report is
nonetheless dramatic. The authors clearly present it as educated speculation rather than an outright prediction.
Despite a few annoying typographical errors, the 22-page report is clearly written and thought-provoking. The file size
is a little less than 1 MB. Download a copy here.

The American Institute of Physics has composed a comprehensive resource page on the history, effects, and specific data
about climate change. Learn more about global warming at the
American Insitute of Physics' site.

A new site founded by technological specialist Eric Drexler "focuses on the science behind emerging technologies of broad
importance, summarizing research results and offering technical perspectives on
research directions." Learn more about new and emerging technologies at e-drexler.com.

Ian Pearson, a futurist working for BT, one of Europe's leading providers of telecommunications services, has written a very
thought-provoking nine-page essay entitled "What's Next?", a survey of likely future technologies and their potentially
disruptive impact on people and the planet as a whole.
A PDF file, you can
download a copy here.

Read some of the latest news in international
trade and economics at the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development’s index of publications,
documents, and news releases. www.oecd.org

The World Trade Organization’s news section provides
information on current economic issues and international
trade disputes. www.wto.org

The U.S. Department of State offers the latest
information on political situations in a number
of countries. www.state.gov

KurzweilAI provides links to recent articles on the latest uses of cutting edge technology, particularly in the field
of artificial intelligence. Read more about “the big thoughts of today’s big thinkers” at KurzeilAI.
www.kurzweilai.net